S$1.51M Award for Mixed-Mode Ventilation in Schools Research
We are pleased to share that our project Mixed-Mode Ventilation in Schools: Impact on Learning, Comfort and Energy has been awarded S$1.51M under the National Research Foundation (NRF) Cities of Tomorrow R&D Programme.
Led by Adrian Chong (NUS), the project brings together an interdisciplinary team of Co-PIs including:
- June Lo (Medicine, NUS)
- Stephen Tay (Built Environment, NUS)
- Bertrand Lasternas (University Campus Infrastructure, NUS)
- Daniel Wong (Built Environment, NUS)
We will be working closely with the Ministry of Education (MOE) as a key collaborator and translation partner, alongside international collaboration with the University of Sydney.
The study will evaluate the impact of natural ventilation (NV), mixed-mode ventilation (MMV), and air-conditioning (AC) on:
- Student learning performance
- Thermal comfort
- Energy consumption
Unlike prior short-term laboratory studies, this project will conduct both a longitudinal field study, directly measuring student learning outcomes using existing school assessments alongside detailed environmental and energy monitoring.
A key innovation of the project is the development of a cost-effective wireless MMV control framework that integrates ceiling fans, operable windows, and programmable thermostats. The research will also apply equivalence testing to rigorously evaluate whether MMV classrooms can deliver learning outcomes comparable to fully air-conditioned classrooms.
The findings will inform evidence-based design standards and operational guidelines for schools, supporting energy-efficient cooling strategies while safeguarding student comfort and academic performance.
We look forward to working closely with the Singapore Ministry of Education and our collaborators to sharing insights from what we believe will be one of the most comprehensive studies globally on mixed-mode ventilation in tropical classrooms.
